Wendy Larry Adds Two New Assistants To Lady Monarch Coaching Staff

May 29, 2008
By ODU Athletics

ODU Sports

May 29, 2008

NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion women's basketball head coach Wendy Larry has named two assistants to join the Lady Monarchs welcoming former Lady Monarch Celeste Hill-Brockett ('94) and Belle Koclanes to her coaching staff.

Hill-Brockett, one of the most decorated players in Lady Monarch basketball history, rejoins the Old Dominion coaching staff after serving as the head coach of Holmes High School in her hometown of Covington, Kentucky. This will mark the second stint for Hill-Brockett on the Lady Monarch sidelines having returned to her alma mater for the 1998-99 season as an assistant coach after playing basketball overseas in Israel and Greece.

"It's always exciting to bring one of your former greats back into the fold," said Larry of Hill-Brockett. "Her experience as a professional player and teach of the game weighed heavily into our decision to bring her back. Her husband is also originally from the Hampton Roads area."

Helping Old Dominion begin its 17-year reign of Colonial Athletic Association titles, Hill-Brockett earned Player of the Year honors from the CAA three times and as a freshman was named Sun Belt Rookie of the Year.

While donning the Lady Monarch uniform, Hill-Brockett's teams compiled a 72-46 overall record and won three CAA conference championships. During her final two years, the Lady Monarchs were a perfect 28-0 in league play. Celeste ranks high in Old Dominion and CAA history, standing fifth at Old Dominion in all-time scoring (2,112), sixth in rebounding (1,124), and fourth in steals (327). She is also second in the CAA in all-time scoring having averaged 20.5 points her senior season and 17.9 points per game during her career. She was the first player in Old Dominion history to lead the team in scoring and rebounding all four years.

Besides her all-conference accolades, Hill-Brockett was named the CAA Most Valuable Player in 1994, Player of the Year in the State of Virginia, and earned Kodak District III All-American honors.

Hill-Brockett graduated from Old Dominion in 1994 with a degree in human services and counseling. She was inducted into the Old Dominion Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Koclanes (pronounced ku-clan-ss) joins the Old Dominion women's basketball staff after four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania and having been a standout on the University of Richmond's squad.

"There were a number of things that were impressive about Belle," said Larry. "Her experience on the Division I level as an assistant, her skills and interests in foreign languages, her experience as a player and teach of the game will be assets to our program."

Koclanes, a 2002 Richmond graduate, was a four-year starting point guard and three-year captain, compiling 1,205 points and a school record 793 assists. Her total assist mark ranks her 20th in career assist leaders at the Division I level. In 2002, was an All-America nominee, Naismith Award candidate, third team All-Atlantic-10 honoree, and Atlantic-10 All-Academic selection. She was also a member of the CAA All-Tournament Team in 1999 and a First Team All-CAA selection in 2001.

Following her collegiate career, Koclanes played professionally overseas competing and traveling throughout Greece and Bulgaria. She was a member of Panserraikos with the Foreign International Basketball Association (FIBA).

Koclanes began her coaching career as the director of basketball operations at Columbia, while also working as a personal trainer in general and sport-specific conditioning before joining the Quaker staff.

Earning her degree in leadership studies from Richmond, Koclanes also received a Master's in culture and communication from New York University in 2004.